SetDB, The Lego Set Database

A few years ago, I started a little project to compile a spreadsheet of all my Lego sets and Lego building instructions. A bit later, I was introduced to Access and had to convert my spreadsheet to a database for all the searching and reporting a real Lego fan has to do.

Soon after, I discovered Lugnet and was overwhelmed by all the reference information available for Lego sets. Consequently, my database had to be extended to incorporate some of the reference information.

Like many Lego fans, I do not have building instructions for all my Lego sets. I still have the pieces for the Lego sets I got as a child. I can remember how the models looked, but I had no idea how to build them again.

One day, I stumbled over Brickshelf and suddenly I found many of the Lego building instructions I was missing. I started to build models using Brickshelf Lego building instructions, but found that it was too expensive to keep an Internet connection open all the time. Closing the connection after a scan had loaded was possible, but every time I wanted to go to a different a page or check something else, I had to wait until the connection was established again. Not to mention that other members of the family wanted to use the Internet connection too.

I tried to print Lego building instructions, but that proved to be equally challenging. Many of the scanned Lego building instructions do not fit readily onto one page and require laborious formatting. And after the Lego building instructions are printed, they need to be filed and found again when required. I tried to store copies of the Brickshelf pages on my hard drive, but again that proved to be not practical when you are trying to find those Lego building instructions for that Technic Go Kart.

And then I found the solution. I read an article about integrating Internet Explorer with Access and now I reference Lego building instructions from my Access Lego Set Database. That is what I use.

For some time, I was considering making my Lego Set Database available to other Lego fans, but the cost of buying an Access development licence put me off. During a holiday, I was reading a book about JavaScript and now YOU too can beat the world wide wait.

Here is

SetDB, The Lego Set Database in HTML and JavaScript.

Enjoy!

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